On its new album, Detroit-based Big Life has hit the nail on the head when it comes to the present state of things. Songs about a techno-fascist ruling class turning the masses against each other and profiting from a dumbed-down, bitterly divided populace would have sounded like the stuff of dystopian fiction a few decades ago. Now it's just our everyday reality — to the point where it almost feels like the great dystopian novels undersold their warnings. On The Cost Of Progress, Big Life rages against the nightmare of contemporary life and the forces that sow dissension. Musically, this band channels the mid-to-late '80s hardcore of SST and Dischord Records, but everything about these songs screams now. This is an angry record — but totally in a good way. Rather than just fuming over how fucked up things have become, the band comes across defiant and determined — pairing its rage with some genuine hope that things could get better if only we admitted there was a problem and collectively tackled it. There's a freshness to these songs that is sometimes missing from modern takes on '80s hardcore. This is not just a bunch of guys listening to their old Husker Du and Dag Nasty records and trying to revive a sound. This is a furious, fiercely intelligent, and genuinely inspired set of songs that you can truly feel deep in your soul. Our good friend Ryan Allen plays guitar in this band, and let's just say that this is very different from the music he typically releases. But it's every bit as good. Crank up the volume, sing along at the top of your lungs, and let the anger flow!
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